Leadership expert Michael Corvini's debut book, LEADERSHIP ALCHEMY: Essential Truths for Driving Transformational Change, opens with an astute potted history of leadership ideas. Beginning with Xenophon’s Cyropaedia, a comprehensive analysis of the conquests of Cyrus the Great (published circa 370 BCE), Corvini notes that it took until the 1990s for something “new” to be added to Xenophon’s insights. The author cites “checks and balances, follower empowerment, psychological safety, and emotional intelligence” as being the most important of these evolutions in leadership thought. Otherwise, in Corvini’s opinion, Xenophon pretty much had it down right from the off.
In his introduction, Corvini asks the rhetorical question of what he could possibly be bringing to the table that is new in an obviously saturated business book market. He is refreshingly honest in his response: “The answer is that nothing will be new. In fact, this book is grounded in the belief that the greatest leadership mysteries are not novel—they are enduring.” Corvini’s aim is to simply empower readers to hone their critical thinking to spot the truths that are hiding in plain sight.
In fact, Corvini does try a new lens to focus on transformational change, using allegory and myth as a way to explore the nuances of management strategies. To do this, Corvini reproduces an illustrated version of an ancient tale: The Story of the Master Alchemist. The three key elements to the story are the alchemist’s requirement of a transmutable base metal, the combination of the Elixir of Life, and the use of the Philosopher’s Stone. It doesn’t take much of a leap in imagination to see how the author is able to transfer this tale into a flexible, insightful parable of the world of management.
Corvini urges readers to think for themselves and identify what the story might mean on an individual basis. To his credit, he eschews the didactic tone that bogs down so many similar books. Instead, he offers ideas and avenues of thought that the reader may explore if they so choose—rather than erect rigid signposts to guide the way towards pre-determined goals. It’s a gentle approach that may suit those tired of relentless, barking management-speak.
The book is well-designed and includes numerous charts and diagrams which, for a change, each serve a clear purpose in visually distilling the information under discussion (rather than cluttering up the narrative like an over-exuberant PowerPoint presentation). Corvini should also be commended for the comprehensive source notes provided for all of the material referenced in the text.
LEADERSHIP ALCHEMY: Essential Truths for Driving Transformational Change is a thought-provoking manual that offers guidance on how best to improve management and leadership skills. Though thoroughly researched and clear in its aims, Michael Corvini's book manages to guide readers with a light touch—foregrounding critical thinking and the exploration of ideas, rather than rigid goal-setting.
—Kent Lane for IndieReader